In its sorrow, the Taizé Community thanks all those who are supporting it by their affection and their prayer. On the morning of 17 August, after Brother Roger’s death, the following prayer was read in the church:

Advertisement

“Christ of compassion, you enable us to be in communion with those who have gone before us, and who can remain so close to us. We confide into your hands our Brother Roger. He already contemplates the invisible. In his footsteps, you are preparing us to welcome a radiance of your brightness.”

As I rejoice on the occasion of the WYD in Cologne, this comes as sad news that is somehow linked to my own WYD experience for I had the opportunity to visit Taize on my way to WYD 97 in Paris.
May the Lord grant Brother Roger eternal rest.

May the Lord grant Brother Roger eternal rest and peace with him. I grieve with all from Taize and throughout the world that knew him for this terrible loss.
And may the lord–and all of us–forgive this man or woman that has taken his life.
A tragedy.

It’s sad for us. It’s sad for that woman, who must definitely have some issues.
For him, on the other hand — there are definitely worse ways to go to Jesus than as a sudden martyr, in church, after a long life in God’s service.

Was Brother Roger Catholic?
Brother Roger was a Protestant.
I don’t think it’s as clear and categorical as that. He may have been a Protestant in the same sense that Soloviev was Russian Orthodox – a member of a Church that on paper is not in communion with Rome, but desiring communion and practicing it personally. And since he was publicly offered Communion at the papal requiem, I think that some authorities must believe the Catholic Church can call him her own.
Whatever the case, I saw nothing in his faith that was deliberately un-Catholic anti-Catholic which would necessitate labling him as “Protestant”.
Although I have heard rumors that he formally converted – and even rumors that he was ordained.

A priest who works in Rome told me that the story he heard is that back during the pontificate of Paul VI Br. Rodger spoke with the Pope about being formally received into full communion and the Pope told him he could do more for the cause of Christian unity by remaining as he was. If this is a true story, it presents an interesting patradox: remaining outside of full communion with the See of Peter out of obedience to a request from the successor of Peter.

A priest who works in Rome told me that the story he heard is that back during the pontificate of Paul VI Br. Rodger spoke with the Pope about being formally received into full communion and the Pope told him he could do more for the cause of Christian unity by remaining as he was.
Would a person be bound by obedience to do what is asked in such a situation? Personally, I doubt seriously Pope Paul VI ever did such a thing. But let’s say that he did, how far could obedience be taken? If Christian unity is a prime good, is keeping someone from that unity evil?

I think we should also recognise – as Benedict XVI did – the significance of what may well prove to be the last, most beautiful letter Brother Roger wrote, which Pope Benedict received on the day of Brother Roger’s death.
Speaking at his weekly audience at Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday 17th August the Pope said:
‘We have spoken at the same time of sadness and joy. In fact, this morning I received very sad, tragic news.
During vespers yesterday afternoon, our beloved Frère Roger Schutz, founder of the Taizé Community, was stabbed and killed, probably by a mentally disturbed woman.
This news has affected me even more because precisely yesterday I received a very moving, affectionate letter from Frère Roger. In it he wrote that from the depth of his heart he wanted to tell me that “we are in communion with you and with those who have gathered in Cologne.”
Then he wrote that, because of his state of health, unfortunately he would not be able to come personally to Cologne, but that he would be present spiritually with his brothers.
At the end, he wrote in this letter that he hopes to come as soon as possible to Rome to meet with me and to tell me that “our Community of Taizé wants to go forward in communion with the Holy Father.” Then he wrote by hand: “Holy Father, I assure you of my sentiments of profound communion. Frère Roger of Taizé.”
At this moment of sadness, we can only commend to the Lord’s goodness the soul of this faithful servant of his. We know that from sadness, as we just heard in the psalm, joy will be reborn.
Frère Schutz is in the hands of eternal goodness, of eternal love; he has attained eternal joy. He invites and exhorts us to be faithful laborers in the Lord’s vineyard, also in sad situations, certain that the Lord accompanies us and gives us his joy.’
This search for communion with the Pope, expressed throughout Brother Roger’s ministry as Prior of Taize, and afterwards in his final years, was well known by the Vatican. Brother Roger remained a deeply close friend of Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II, as well as with Mother Theresa, and it was as “our beloved brother” that the then still Cardinal Ratzinger shared the depth of Christ’s love with Brother Roger, in giving him the Blessed Sacrament at the papal funeral Mass they both attended.
Yes, there are legalistic positions that can be taken. There are laws on the sharing of sacraments. But I feel sure and confident that Brother Roger did not present an issue of scandal, that in his soul he was at peace then, as I pray he is now.
Incidentally, it wasn’t Paul VI, but John XXIII who is said to have suggested Brother Roger should remain as he was…..

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.

Previous Posts

There is nothing I shall wantA couple of weeks ago, a memorial Mass for Michael was held here in Birmingham at the Cathedral. The bishop presided and offered a very nice, even charming homily in which he first focused on the Scripture readings of the day, and then turned to ...

Revolutionary Road - Is it just me?Why am I the only person I know..or even "know" in the Internet sense of "knowing" - who didn't hate it? I didn't love it, either. There was a lot wrong with it. Weak
characterization. Miscasting. Anvil-wielding mentally ill prophets.But ...

Books for LentNo, I'm not going to ask you about your Lenten reading lists...although I might.Not today, though. This post is about giving books to others. For Lent, and a long time after that.
You know how it goes during Lent: Prayer, Fasting and ...

Why Via MediaHow about....because I'm lame and hate thinking up titles to things? No?Okay...how about...St. Benedict?
Yes, yes, I know the association with Anglicanism. That wasn't invovled in my purpose in naming the joint, but if draws some Googling ...

Brave Heart?I don't know about you, but one of effects of childbirth on me was a compulsion to spill the details. All of them.The whole thing was fascinating to me, so of course I assumed everyone else should be fascinated as well in the recounting of every ...